The French yellow short shooter launches a Super Etendard from the waist catapult. Clearly visible is the bridle, the cable that attaches the aircraft to the catap. Also clearly visible is the Damocles targeting pod (equipped with a FLIR system) underneath the fuselage. Since 2018, this Super Etendard is in use as an instructional airframe at Hyeres Le Palyvestre.

Rafale M showing two types of air-to-air missiles. On the wingtip an IR MICA, which is equipped with passive imaging infra-red homing seeker, is attached. Underneath the wing a RF MICA is seen, which is equipped with an active radar homing seeker. Both MICA types are able to intercept their taget beyond visual range (BVR) of the launch aircraft. MICA is an abbrivation of Missile d'Interception, de Combat et d'Auto-défense (in english: "Interception, Combat and Self-protection Missile") and were commisioned on the Rafale from 1996.

Three long range fuel tanks, two IR MICA air to air missile and one tailhook. Serial 30 was delivered to the Aeronavale in May 2010. The aircraft served on and off with operational squadrons (Flotille) 11F and 12F and the Centre d'expérimentations pratiques et de réception de l'aéronautique navale (CEPA, this unit is charge of reception, validation and procedures development for the French Navy).

After its military career, serial 57 was preserved at Lanveoc Poulmic (France) from April 2015.

Serial 28 was delivered to the Aeronavale in late 2009. The aircraft is here equipped with a Safran aerial refueling pod underneath the fuselage.

Plane guard duty during Charles de Gaulle carrier activities by an Alouette III. The helicopter type was phased out from active Marine Nationale service in the Summer of 2022 and was officially retired from on 9 December 2022.

Catching the cable and bouncing off the deck with its main gear, what a spectacle it is! Serial 51 is sold to Argentina in January 2018 and left France in April 2019. The SEM received a new four digit serial and became code 3A-215, 216, 217, 218 or 219. The tie-up is not known. The aircraft is now stored at Comandante Espora (EA32) and did not see operational service from Argentina soil so far.

Resting in between missions on the deck of the Charles de Gaulle while sailing through the Med (with Sicily in the back ground), this Super Etendard is since June 2017 in use as an instructional airframe at Chambley (France).

Serial 51 is sold to Argentina in January 2018 and left France in April 2019. Close to 50 Super Etendard Modernisé's (SEM) were delivered to the Marine Nationale. The SEM is based on the Super Étendard, which is based on the Étendard IVM. The Super Etendard Modernisé was constantly upgraded by the French Navy through its life. It was used for anti-ship, strike, reconnaissance and nuclear strike missions. Here, serial 51 is launched from the R91, its bridle (the cable that attaches the Etendard to the steam catapult) is just dropped after launch in the sea (one bridle is used for each launch!).

Delivered to the French Navy in December 2007, and seen here just after launch over the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Sicily.

Full AB on the waist catapult

This Rafale M was delivered to the Marine Nationale, Aeronavale or Aéronautique Navale on 8 February 2012. It is seen here being directed to the bow catapult of the Charles de Gaulle.

Since 2018, this Super Etendard is in use as an instructional airframe at Hyeres Le Palyvestre. The aircraft is seen here being directed to the catapult of the Charles de Gaulle.

The SA365F1 is much improved variant of the SA365 for the Marine Nationale. It has been used since 1991 for general duties, for backup purposes, Search and Rescue and plane guard mission aboard French NAval ships, including the Charles de Gaulle. The variant 365F is used since 1999 with Flottille 35F, which is based at Hyères Le Palyvestre (France).

A SEM being launched from the R91

This Etendard served the Aeronavale up to April 2016. The aircraft went into storage and was sold to Argentina in January 2018 and received code 3A-215, 216, 217, 218 or 219. The tie-up is not known. After arrival in Argentina, the Etendard is stored at Comandante Espora (EA32) air base.

This former is a former 11F aircraft, withdrawn from use in 2008 and stored at Hyéres since mid-2009. The aircraft is preserved at Toulouse museum (France) since 2018. On the picture the tail of serial 15 (former 17F) can be seen too. This Super Etendard is stored at Hyéres since mid-2011.

Former Swiss AF J-4097 went to the Texas Air Command Museum, Arlington (TX) with registration N58HH on 20 Nov'95. Via an unknown owner in Delaware the F58A was sold to the Northern Lights Aerobatic Team Inc. and Equipe de Voltige Northern Lights Inc, Montreal (QC) as C-GZIB from Jul'03. It moved to Lortie Aviation Inc, Lac Saint-Joseph (QC) and remained C-GZIB from 10 Sep'08 (and was operated from Istres). Then N340AX with Hunter Aviation Int'l Inc, Newark (DE) in Dec'16, leased for 3 yrs to TVPX Aircraft Solutions Inc Trustee, North Salt Lake (UT) from '18 and is now still owned by Hunter Avn

Pictured just after launch from one of the side catapults of the R91. The steam is caused by a launch of one of the bow catapult.

Close to 50 Super Etendard Modernisé's (SEM) were delivered to the Marine Nationale. The SEM is based on the Super Étendard, which is based on the Étendard IVM. The Super Etendard Modernisé was constantly upgraded by the French Navy through its life. It was used for anti-ship, strike, reconnaissance and nuclear strike missions. Here, serial 4 is launched from the R91, its bridle (the cable that attaches the Etendard to the steam catapult) is just dropped after launch in the sea (one bridle is used for each launch!).